Roundup: German economy likely to remain weak in 2025, institutes warn
Germany [Berlin], December 13: Germany's long-awaited economic recovery appears to be slipping further out of reach, with key economic institutes cutting their forecasts for the...
Russia hopes to keep military bases in Syria for anti-terrorism purpose: deputy...
Russia [Moscow], December 13: Russia hopes to keep its military bases in Syria as they are important in the fight against terrorism, Russian Deputy Foreign...
BiH's Livno Cheese added to EU' register of Protected Geographical Indication
Bosnia and Herzegovina [Sarajevo], December 13: The European Commission has officially recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina's "Livno Cheese" (Livanjski sir) as a product of exceptional agricultural...
2024 Imperial Springs Int'l Forum highlights collective actions in addressing global challenges
Spain [Madrid], December 13: The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum (ISIF) concluded here on Thursday, with attendees from various fields highlighting the importance of collective...
Int'l conference held in London to explore role of AI in shaping...
England [London], December 13: An international conference on online education and massive open online courses (MOOC) opened in London on Thursday, drawing hundreds of educational...
US House passes massive defense policy bill
Washington DC [US], December 13: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a defense policy bill on Wednesday, governing a record $895 billion in annual military...
UN General Assembly demands ceasefire in Gaza
Gaza [Palestine], December 13: The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian...
Chemical weapons use in Syria must be investigated
Damascus [Syria], December 13: The head of the chemical weapons watchdog said he would ask Syria's new leaders to grant investigators access to the country...
Israel kills 36 Palestinians in Gaza
Gaza [Palestine], December 13: Israel killed 13 Palestinians in two airstrikes in Gaza that Gaza medics and Hamas said were part of a force protecting...
Hong Kong ex-democratic lawmaker among seven convicted for rioting
Hong Kong, December 13: A Hong Kong court convicted prominent former pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting for rioting after a white-shirted mob attacked him in July...
Time magazine to name Trump 'Person of the Year'
New York [US], December 12: Donald Trump will ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday on the same day he...
Syria's Golani vows to punish those responsible for torture under Assad
Damascus [Syria], December 12: The main commander of the fighters who toppled Bashar al-Assad said that anyone involved in the torture or killing of detainees...
Blinken faces Republican critics of Afghanistan withdrawal
New York [US], December 12: Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan as an ending of the country's longest war...
South Korea police try to raid Yoon's office over martial law
Seoul [South Korea], December 12: South Korean police tried to search President Yoon Suk Yeol's office but have not been able to enter the main...
Vienna Airport welcomes over 30 million passengers for first time since 2019
Vienna [Austria], December 12: Vienna International Airport has announced surpassing 30 million passengers for the first time since 2019, signalling a strong recovery in travel...
UN appeals for $4.07 billion to support Gaza, West Bank
New York [US], December 12: The United Nations launched an urgent humanitarian appeal today, calling for US$4.07 billion to address the most pressing needs of...
2024 hottest year on record: WMO report
Geneva [Switzerland], December 12: The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has projected that 2024 is on course to become the hottest year on record, primarily due...
FAO launches first major global assessment of salt-affected soils in 50 years
Geneva [Switzerland], December 12: The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has released the first major global assessment of salt-affected soils in 50 years.
EU spent €381.4 billion on R&D in 2023
Brussels [Belgium], December 12: In 2023, the EU spent €381.4 billion on research & development (R&D), which is 6.7% more than in the previous year...
Austria drops veto on Bulgaria, Romania fully joining Schengen Travel Zone
Vienna [Austria], December 12: Austria is dropping its veto on Romania and Bulgaria becoming full members of Europe's Schengen free-travel area, the Austrian Interior Ministry...
Finance Minister Keller-Sutter to be next president of Switzerland
Bern [Switzerland], December 12: Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter will become president of her country in 2025, after her formal election by both houses of...
Hungary's Orban calls Putin to discuss diplomacy options in Ukraine war
Moscow [Russia] / Kiev [Ukraine], December 12: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have spoken on the phone about the war...
Ex-defence chief in South Korea tries to kill himself after being arrested
Seoul [South Korea], December 12: South Korea's previous defence minister was stopped from attempting suicide while in detention over last week's martial law declaration, officials...
Afghanistan's refugee minister Haqqani killed in suicide blast in Kabul
Kabul [Afghanistan], December 12: Afghanistan's acting minister for refugees has been killed in an explosion in the capital, Kabul, the Taliban has said.
Iran blames Israel, US for overthrow of al-Assad
Tehran [Iran], December 12: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has blamed his archenemies the United States and Israel for the fall of the Bashar...
Syria's new PM appeals to refugees: 'Come back!'
Rome [Italy], December 12: Syria's new interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, is calling on Syrian refugees around the world to return to their homeland following...
EU to discuss potential sanctions on Georgia after protest violence
Brussels [Belgium], December 12: The European Union is threatening the Georgian government with sanctions in light of the violence against pro-European protesters. Possible measures will...